Silo-roof.



.I. .I. IIQUTZ & W. I.- HARRIS. SILO ROOF.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, I9I4- 1,153,082. Patented Sept. 7', 1915;

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

COLUMIIA WRAP" CO" mm, D- C- J. J. HOUTZ & W. L. HARRIS.

J SILO ROOF. 7 APPLICATION FILED NOV- 24 I914- 1,153,082.* PatentedSept. 7, 1915.

2 SHEETSSH EET 2- COLUMIIA PLANOOIAPB C0" WASHINGTON, B. C.

UNTTED STATES PATENT JOHN J. HOUTZ AND WILLIAM L. HARRIS, OF MER'WIN, MISSOUB-I.

SILO-ROOF.

jififi dltig.

specification of Letters Patent.

firtented Sept. 2, as.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We, JOHN J. Home and lVnlLmM L. Hanms, citizens of the United btates, residing at Merwin, Bates and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Silo- Roofs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in roofs for silos and has particular application to a sectional roof.

In carrying out the resent invention, it is our purpose to provi o a roof of the class described which will embody in its construction, among other features, a number oi sections capable of relative swingln movement to open and closed positions so tint the upper end of the silo may be oiened when it is desired to fill the same an subsequently closed to keep out rainwater, dirt and the like.

It is also our purpose to provide a silo roof which will embrace the desired features of simplicity. efficiency and durability, which may be app icd to the silo without altering the construction thereof and which, when applied, may be operated with ease and convenience.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in .the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling Within the scope of the claims.

in the accompanying drawings; Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation of a silo equipped with a roof constructed in accordance with the resent invention, the sections of the root bein shown in closed position. Fig. .2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the sections of the roof in open position. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the silo and roof thereon. Fig. 4 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail 1 designates the upper portion of a silo some suitable construction.

Secured to the side wall of the silo adjacent to the upper end thereof at diametricially opposite points are base plates 2 equippcr with outwardly extending axially alining trunnions B.

l designates the roof of the silo compris ing a hemispherical body formed of two sections 6 and 6.

The open end of the body is reinforced by in the county of means of an angle iron 7 extending around the inner circumference thereof and having one flan e secured to the inner wall of the body an the remaining fian e disposed at the lower ed e of the first tango and ere tending into t l0 body in a substantially horizontal plane. This angle iron is of course, split at the adjoining ends of the sections of the roof and the particular end of the section 6 overlaps the adjacent end of the secsecured to the section beyond the adjacent edge thereof is an angle iron 9 having one flan e bolted to the particular section of the 1'00 and extending from one extremity to the other and the remaining flange designed to abut the outwardl extending flange oi. the angle iron 8 on t 0 section (5 when the sections 5 and 6 ofthe roof are assembled in roof formation. The overlapping edges of the sections 5 and 6 at the ends thereof are provided with horizontally alining boxings 10 through which are passed the trunnions-3 whereby the roof l is supported upon the silo and the sections 5 and (5 ena led to swing relatively to each other so that the adjacent ends thereof may be separated when it is desired to till the silo.

The outer ends of the trunnions are braced by suitable braces 11, while encircling the trunnions are coiled expansion springs 12, 12 res ecti'vely disposed between the wall of the si 0 and the boxings carried by the edge of the section 5 of the roof, such springs acting to hold the roof a ainst movement relatively to the silo along t 10 trunnions and enabling the silo to contract and expand without affecting the roof. Braces 13 are also employed and secured to the wall of the silo immediately below the open end of the root and are adapted to engage the bottom ed go of the roof to maintain the latter stable. In the present instance each brace 13 is formed of a horizontal limb and a depending vertical limb 20 formed with a. slot 21, and a su )port 22 secured to the adjacent portion of t e wall of the silo. Secured to one side wallof the support 22 is a: horizontal pin 23 passed through the slot 21in the depending vertical limb of the bracket. When the brackets are active the upper ends of the 7' slot 21 engage the'pins 23 while the inner edges of the vertical limbs of the brackets engage the adjacent portions of the wall of the silo, thereby preventingswingingjof the bracket end fastened to the inner surface of the.sec-.

tion adj acent to the inner edge of such section bymeans of a ring and the opposite end trained over a guide sheave16' secured to the inner surface of the section6 adjacent to the inner edge thereof and thence downv the lower edge of the roof of the silo, the

lower ends of the depending vertical limbs of such braces are engaged by a pole and moved upwardly and this upwardmovement of the braces is permitted by the pin and slot connection between the vertical limbs thereof and, the supports for the braces, the pin and slot connections being -.clearly illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

When the vertical limbs of the braces have reached their limit of upward movement the [outer V extremities of the horizontal limbs thereof drop downwardlyowing to the vertical limbs being'relieved of the restraining influence of the side wall of the. silo. Thus,

I it will be seen that the braces may be quickly and conveniently tions of the roof.

A ropell or other flexible elementhas one Weclaim:

operated to relievethe sec 1. i -,45

' 1. The combination 'with a'silo, of trun j nions secured to the silo adjacent to the upper end thereof and projecting outwardly therefrom at diametrically opposite points,

and a roof comprising a hemispherical'body I formedfof two sections, boxings carried by the opposite ends of the inner edges of said sections journaled upon said trunnions whereby the section of the roof may be swung to open. and closed positions, and

springs encircling said trunnions and acting to hold the sections oftheroof normally silo. c 2. The combination with a silo, 10f trunnions' secured to the silo adjacenttothe uptherefrom atdiametrically opposite points, a roof comprising a hemispherical body against lateral movement relatively to the 7 "per ends thereof and projecting outwardly formed oftwo sections, boxings carried by the opposite ends of the inner edges of said sections journaled upon said, trunnions whereby thesections of the roof may swing to open and closed positions, a guide sheave carried by the inner surface of one of said sections, a flexible element trained over said sheave and havlng one end connected to the inner surface of'the other section and the remaining end portion extending downwardly. along the silo'whereby the sections of the roofmay be swung into roof formation. is I :In testimonywhereof we affix our signatures in presence oftwo witnesses JOHN J. HOUTZ. 7 WILLIAM L. HARRIS. I WVitnesses:v

RAY Y-inos'r, J. R. MARTIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained'for five cents each, lay-addressing the Commissioner of Patents, v washingtomD. G3 

